Stratigraphy and Lithologic Correlation

1.

a.
Draw lines between the three stratigraphic sections below to connect the geologic contacts
between similar lithologies. (USE A RULER!!.) Note that each vertical column is a stratigraphic
section. Each lithologic unit can be regarded as a bed.

b.
How many beds can be correlated across all three sections?

4 sections are present in each of the three sections

c.
How thick is the thickest stratigraphic section (or column of rocks)?

Section B is approximately 6.5 meters thick (0.5m – 7.0 m)

d.
A bed of coal is present in sections B and C. How deep would you have to drill in section A
(starting at the top of the section, up near the letter A) to reach the buried coal seam?

There is no tilting between sections A and B. The top of the coal seam is at approximately 2.1
meters on column B, so we can assume it is at the same depth on A. We would need to drill 4.9
meters (7.0 – 2.1) to reach the top of the coal seam in column A.
2.

a.
Draw lines to correlate the two sections below.

b.
Which section (A or B) contains an unconformity?
A

c.
Which units are missing from that section because of the unconformity? (Give rock types).

Column A is missing a sandstone bed and a coal seam.

d.
Label the position of the unconformity with an arrow and the word "unconformity".

e.
What type of unconformity is it?

Conglomerate overlying limestone, stratified sediments over stratified sediments, means we have
a disconformity.
3.

a.
Draw correlation lines between the three sections below. Note that the units vary in thickness in
each section.

b.
What happens to the conglomerate in section C? Why is it not present in section A or B?

Somewhere between sections B and C the thickness of the conglomerate bed thins to zero.
Columns A and B must not be in a terrestrial setting where conglomerates are deposited.

c.
Why does the thickness of the sandstone change from section A to section B?

The location of section B lies within the sandstone facies zone longer and therefore the sandstone
bed is thicker.

d.
In which direction (west or east?) was the land?

The land was to the east since that is where the terrestrial deposit (conglomerate) is found.

e.
In which direction (west or east?) was deeper water?

Thicker limestone deposits are found to the west, so that is where the deeper water was found.

f.
Label the right side of section C with arrows to illustrate transgresion (T) and regression (R).

Transgressions are fining upward while regressions are coarsening upward.

4.

a.
Correlate the three sections below. (Note that the limestone unit is present only in sections A and
B, and that it is much thinner in section B. It has thinned to the point where it is not present at all
in section C.) This is called a pinchout.

b.
What type of sequence (transgressive? regressive? or transgressive-regressive?) is represented
here, as indicated by the vertical sequence of facies?

transgressive-regressive

c.
Label the column on the left with up-pointing arrows to indicate the part of the sequence which
represents a transgression (T), and the part which represents a regression (R). Label the arrows T
or R.

d.
These sediments were deposited in an ancient sea. Based on the rock types, which facies (not
section) was deposited nearest to the mainland?

Sandstone is at the beginning of the transgression and the end of the regression, so it is the facies
deposited closest to shore.

e.
Which facies (not section) was deposited farthest from the land?

Limestone is found at the height of a transgression, so it is deposited furthest from land.

f.
In which direction (west or east) was the land?

Deep-water limestone is not found in section C so that is the direction closest to land.

http://www.ocean.odu.edu/~spars001/geology_112/laboratory/session_04/correlation_01.jpg